Jakarta, July 21 -- Biological diversity serves as the foundation for Indonesia's long-term economic future, Minister of National Development Planning and Head of the National Development Planning AgencyBappenas Rachmat Pambudy stated in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch of the Biodiversity Status Document for the Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Java, Maluku, and Papua regions, Pambudy urged a fundamental shift away from raw resource extraction toward sustainable, high-value downstream development.

"Biodiversity is something that seems very ordinary every day, like forests, wildlife, or conservation areas," he remarked.

"Yet, whether we realize it or not, this biodiversity is the source of our future. Every day we enjoy sources of food, ...